Firstfruits

Firstfruits in the Old Testament

9 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a †sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: 11 And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. 12 And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the LORD.

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible First Fruits

The first fruits were presented to God by bringing the offering to the priest at the tabernacle and, in later times, at the temple (Dt 26:2). The priest took the offering and on the first day of the week with arms outstretched waved it before the Lord.

The priest would literally hold the firstfruits of the crops in the air, between heaven and earth and if God excepted the firstfruits offering, that meant he would accept the rest of the harvest as well. The firstfruits represented the entire harvest.

Christ is our firs fruits. Because Christ was accepted we are all accepted. Christ rose from the dead and become the firstfruits of all those who have died. Christ was the firstfruits meaning he rose first. Now that the risen Christ has been accepted by God we are all accepted by God. The firstfruits represneted the rest of the harvest. Christ hanged between heaven and earth on that cross and he was accepted. he was like the wave offering, the presit would wave the firstfruits in the air between heaven and earth to see if God would accept it. Christ was like a wave offering on the cross. He was accepted and through him we are all accepted. Since he has risen we all rise through him.